[Hiring] Strategic Planner @Arizona Department of Administration

Role Description

The Department of Economic Security, Child and Community Services Division (CCSD) is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as the Strategic Planner. The Strategic Planner leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of divisional strategies and high-priority initiatives. This cross-functional leader coordinates with teams across the division and agency to ensure complex projects align with organizational goals, enhance program effectiveness, and support change management efforts. By translating a high-level vision into actionable, data-driven outcomes, the Strategic Planner cultivates key local, statewide, and national partnerships. Additionally, the role provides direct team leadership to diverse divisional staff and delivers regular progress reports and executive updates to CCSD Leadership.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely within Arizona based upon the department's needs and continual meetings of expected performance measures.

The state of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, commissions, many State employees participate in the State's Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or graduate degree in business, social services, public administration or public policy, law or closely related field.
• Three or more years of experience in project coordination or project management (or equivalent experience).
• Knowledge of social policies and trends, federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to Child Care Administration programs.

Requirements

• Driver’s License Requirements: Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license.
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans.
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans.
• 10 paid holidays per year.
• Paid vacation and sick time.
• Paid Parental Leave - Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child.
• Deferred compensation plan.
• Wellness plans.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Stipend Opportunities.
• Infant at Work Program.
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy.
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities.

Job Duties

• Lead divisional strategies and high-priority initiatives from development through implementation and evaluation.
• Translate high-level vision into actionable, data-driven outcomes.
• Support change management efforts across the division.
• Review and synthesize data and information, prepare reports and presentations, and deliver regular progress reports and executive updates to CCSD Leadership.
• Lead cross-functional teams across the division and agency to align complex projects with organizational goals.
• Facilitate problem solving and execute special projects.
• Cultivate key partnerships at local, statewide, and national levels to enhance program effectiveness.
• Represent the Division in high-level committees, cross-agency workgroups, and external partner meetings.
• Drive an organizational culture of continuous improvement by establishing key performance indicators.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of federal and state programs including early childhood education, child care law, and programs supporting economic independence.
• Change management principles.
• DES policy and procedures.
• Federal and state funding rules and regulations.
• Available community resources.
• Government practices, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation.
• Computer use to include documents, spreadsheets, and email.
• Lean principles.
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging framework.
• Google suite and other software applications.